Today we’d like to introduce you to Sahand Fardi.
Hi Sahand, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Picture umbrellaing a fruit tree on a rainy day. At a time when climate change is revealing the preciousness of water, you choose to deprive the tree even more. You witness the brittling of its leaves, the rotting of its fruit, and the chapping of its branches. Welcome to the tree that is Iran, the fruit that is its people, the rain that is its liberty, and the umbrella that is its oppression. Many believe this revolution began with the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, but few outside of Iran recognize this incident in its truest form: A lit match thrown into a gasoline-soaked forest.
To imagine the past four decades of Iranian suffrage, imagine the unimaginable. Imagine a world where passing out chocolate and hugs to public by-passers would stamp a death sentence on your forehead. Imagine a world where voicing your support for freedom would destroy your ability to leave the country. Imagine a world where a parent could be arrested while grieving at her child’s gravesite. Imagine a world where children go to school fearing shackles in class. Imagine a world where owning a dog labels you as brainwashed by the external world. Imagine a world where asking a young boy what his dreams are yields the response, “I’ve never had the opportunity to dream. As far back as my memory goes, my life has solely involved working to help my family afford the bare essentials”. The list goes on. For the young, the old, and everyone in between, this is the umbrella they are under.
How about the fruit of Iran’s tree? Inventors of human rights, mathematics, pottery, and textiles. Leaders in law, medicine, engineering, and art. Founders and CEOs of some of the most popular apps and companies worldwide. Iranians will happily dance to any beat, deny you leaving their home with an empty stomach, take the shirt off their back and give it to you, and will bend their back for you even if it’s broken. If that isn’t enough, here are some of the most common endearing Farsi phrases: Toh Nafasami. You are the air I breathe. Fadat besham. I’d die for you. Doret begardam. I circle you with adoration.
These are the fruits of Iran. People with love, selflessness, and intelligence beaming from their bodies. These are the fruits in danger under the umbrella of oppression.
So what was the start? Over four decades of the oppressive rooting underground. Where are we today? The first female sprouted and stemmed counter-revolution in history.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely a mix. As an Iranian American, my heart warms at the sight of Iranians and non-Iranians uniting in protest across the nation. After all, this is a humanitarian crisis, not solely an Iranian crisis. On the other hand, media recognition and organizational action are not at the level we had expected. While coverage has improved since the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16th, 2022, it must remain continuously accessible, especially because of widespread internet shut-offs and phone line supervision in Iran. Thousands of innocent beings, even before September 16th, have been imprisoned and killed advocating for women’s rights and unanimous freedom. How can you help them? By becoming their voice. You’d be surprised how far a simple social media repost or protest attendance will go. Such actions have allowed for leaked footage from Iran to reach millions, including members of humanitarian groups. Because of this, victories such as freeing a few innocent protestors and activists have occurred. However, thousands remain incarcerated with their breaths numbered.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a member of the Iranian-American filmmaker and creator community, our current goal involves artistically representing who Iranian people are and why this revolution is so crucial. I am most proud of the art my fellow Iranians are releasing in and around Iran. Singer-Songwriter Shervin Hajipour’s song “Baraye” immediately became the anthem of the revolution as it describes the “fors and whys” of the movement. Film Director Arrad’s short film “Lioness” majestically displays the fire that burns within each Iranian woman as she fights for her freedom of choice and opportunity. And as Iran-raised women, artists Nazanin and Maneli Aygani use various techniques to illustrate the trajectory of their emotions while paying tribute to their murdered sisters.
Seek art to understand who Iranians are. Watch the media to learn about the magnitude of oppression. Combine the two to comprehend our “why”. As I type on a tear-filled keyboard, I leave you with this: For every fruit, the umbrella rots, a multitude of new seeds are released; each stemming mightily to puncture the oppressive umbrella above their mother tree. Baraye Zan, Zendegi, Azadi. For Woman, Life, Freedom.
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Image Credits
Art: Nazanin Aygani, Maneli Aygani “Lioness” Directed by Arrad
